Is this dog not exquisite?

This is a Mudhol Hound, a sighthound from India. Also known as the Maratha Hound, Pashmi Hound and Kathewar Dog, the breed made the news recently when authorities at Bandipur Tiger Reserve brought a pair from the Canine Research and Information Centre to help safeguard the forest. The pups will be trained as sniffer dogs to detect and prevent crimes including poaching and smuggling.

This is what we call a win/win.

By way of a little background: The Mudhol Hound was developed in the western region of the Deccan Plateau where it served as a companion, hunter, and guard dog for both royalty and peasants throughout the ages. The dogs were valued for their all around excellence in conditions that were too grueling for most other types of working dogs.

One could also say that Mudhols were canine patriots of India for the role they played in the fight for Indian freedom and independence. Indeed, during the 17th and 18th century, Indian Hindus fought against descendants of Ghengis Khan (the Mughals), and Mudhol Hounds were used in guerrilla warfare to guard and sight interlopers.

As gorgeous as the breed is, the dogs were never a pampered breed. They always lived a rugged existence, and always worked for their keep. Sadly, the breed today is on the verge of extinction, but efforts have been undertaken in India to turn this around. Dog shows are offering entry fee price breaks for native breeds, and in 2007, the Mysore Kennel Club of Bangalore featured an exhibition only of Mudhol Hounds to bring attention to this native son. Two hundred fifty-five Mudhol Hounds were entered, a marvelous turnout in a country that had forsaken native dog breeds in favor of more “exotic” dogs from other countries: German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, etc.

Rediscovering India’s own breed has been overdue, and much welcomed. The Indian Army has already taken ten dogs,  and the Border Security Force purchased four dogs before that. In 2008, the formation of a facility dedicated to the breed was proposed, and today, the Mudhol Hound Research and Information Centre serves to develop and conserve the breed.

It comes as welcomed news, then, that “Rana,” the now retired German Shepherd sniffer dog who had helped in detecting various poaching cases is being replaced by Mudhol Hound pups.